Athensvol
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2006
- Messages
- 221
- Likes
- 0
Dogs to open without Dooley
Former UGA coach to miss first home opener in 43 years
By TONY BARNHART
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/28/07
For the first time in 43 years, Vince Dooley will not be in Sanford Stadium when Georgia kicks off a football season at Sanford Stadium.
After much soul searching and a more than a little prodding from wife Barbara, the Hall of Fame coach has decided that he should be in Ruston, La., to watch his son, Derek, make his debut as head coach at Louisiana Tech.
Saturday's UGA game against Oklahoma State will be the first Bulldogs home game Dooley has missed since the 1989 season, when he served as an ESPN analyst. Other than a few games that season, he's been a Sanford Stadium regular since Oct. 3, 1964, the date of his first game as UGA head coach. He hasn't skipped an opener in that time.
"It's going to feel very strange not being there after 43 years," said Dooley, UGA's head coach from 1964-88. "But Barbara convinced me that this was the right thing to do."
Barbara Dooley had already made her intentions clear. She was going to see her baby boy, now 39, in his first game as a head coach.
"She was going with or without me," Dooley said with a laugh. "After that, it became pretty clear what I needed to do."
Dooley, who turns 75 years next Tuesday, has just completed a series of radiation treatments that became necessary when a malignant tumor was found near his vocal cords earlier this year. His voice is still a bit raspy, but is expected to return to normal in about a month. His fall will include a busy schedule of speeches, book signings and radio work.
"I feel really good. I wished I sounded better but that will come," Dooley said. "I guess I'm like a lot of people. I'm ready for football season to start."
Former UGA coach to miss first home opener in 43 years
By TONY BARNHART
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/28/07
For the first time in 43 years, Vince Dooley will not be in Sanford Stadium when Georgia kicks off a football season at Sanford Stadium.
After much soul searching and a more than a little prodding from wife Barbara, the Hall of Fame coach has decided that he should be in Ruston, La., to watch his son, Derek, make his debut as head coach at Louisiana Tech.
Saturday's UGA game against Oklahoma State will be the first Bulldogs home game Dooley has missed since the 1989 season, when he served as an ESPN analyst. Other than a few games that season, he's been a Sanford Stadium regular since Oct. 3, 1964, the date of his first game as UGA head coach. He hasn't skipped an opener in that time.
"It's going to feel very strange not being there after 43 years," said Dooley, UGA's head coach from 1964-88. "But Barbara convinced me that this was the right thing to do."
Barbara Dooley had already made her intentions clear. She was going to see her baby boy, now 39, in his first game as a head coach.
"She was going with or without me," Dooley said with a laugh. "After that, it became pretty clear what I needed to do."
Dooley, who turns 75 years next Tuesday, has just completed a series of radiation treatments that became necessary when a malignant tumor was found near his vocal cords earlier this year. His voice is still a bit raspy, but is expected to return to normal in about a month. His fall will include a busy schedule of speeches, book signings and radio work.
"I feel really good. I wished I sounded better but that will come," Dooley said. "I guess I'm like a lot of people. I'm ready for football season to start."
